The document discusses amendments made by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission to the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Terms and Conditions for Tariff determination from Renewable Energy Sources) Regulations, 2012. Key points include: 1) Amendments made to technical norms for biomass power projects and limits placed on fossil fuel use in biomass plants. 2) Specification of Operation and Maintenance expenses for solar PV projects for FY 2016-17. 3) Clarification provided on Return on Equity rates fixed in the regulations and treatment of suggestions made by stakeholders. 4) Presentation of levelized generic tariffs determined for various renewable energy technologies for FY 2016-17.

2. The Commission notified the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Terms and Conditions for Tariff determination from
Renewable Energy Sources) Regulations, 2012, on 06.02.2012 (hereinafter referred to as “the RE Tariff Regulations”), which
provide for terms and conditions and the procedure for determination of tariff of the following categories of Renewable
Energy (RE) generating stations:
(a) Wind Power Projects;
(b) Small Hydro Projects;
(c) Biomass Power Projects with Rankine Cycle technology;
(d) Non-fossil fuel-based Co-generation Plants;
(e) Solar Photo Voltaic (PV)Projects;
(f) Solar Thermal Power Projects;
(g) Biomass Gasifier based Power Projects; and
(h) Biogas based Power Projects.

3. The 1st amendment says about the various technical norms of Biomass Power Projects with Rankine Cycle technology have been
amended.
The 2nd amendments says :The use of fossil fuels in biomass power plants has been limited to the extent of 15% in terms of
calorific value on annual basis, till 31.03.2017.
The 3rd says :Station Heat Rate and calorific value of the fuel used for biomass power projects using fossil fuel up to 15 % have
been defined.
4th says : the Commission has decided to issue the Tariff Order for MSW / RDF projects separately, till such time it is proposed
that the tariff as per order dated 7.10.2015 shall continue to be in force.
5th :Operation and Maintenance (O&M) expenses for Solar PV projects for FY 2016-17 have been specified.
Generic Tariff is different from project specific tariff for which a project developer has to file petition before the Commission as
per the format provided in the RE Tariff Regulations.
Suggestion of the stakeholders :
A. Change in Surcharge on Income Tax ;
surcharge on Income Tax has been increased from 10% to 12% for the assessment year 2016-17. Accordingly, it is requested that
income tax be revised to 34.61% and Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) rate to 21.34% instead of 33.99% and 20.00% respectively.
The Commission clarifies that ROE is fixed in the RE Tariff Regulations at 20% for first 10 years and 24% 11th year onwards.
Regulation 16(2) states:
“The normative Return on Equity shall be:
a) 20% per annum for the first 10 years.
b) 24% per annum 11th years onwards.”

4. B. Change in Service Tax rate: impact of Service Tax rate of 15 % in the capital cost components.
The Commission would like to refer to the RE Tariff Regulations 2012, which set a benchmark capital cost and O&M cost for all technologies for
the base year, and allowed an yearly escalation rate based on specific price indices. However, no separate provision for change of service tax
exists in the Regulations. Additionally, for Solar PV and Solar Thermal, annual review of capital cost benchmark was allowed.
C. Accelerated Depreciation Benefit :As per the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister for 2016, Accelerated Depreciation benefit from
next financial year shall be restricted to 40% instead of 80%;
D. Composite tariff under new category "Wind-Solar Hybrid" :World Wind Energy Association (WWEA) proposed Wind-Solar Hybrid to be
treated as a new category under RE Technologies as the output of both, Solar and Wind components is combined at the point of grid
connection. The capex saving in a combined wind-solar project could be of the order of 10-15% and due to both the facilities being located at
the same site, there will also be substantial savings in O&M. They have also highlighted that a more balanced RE generation mix shall be
beneficial to the grid, as huge amount of solar generation without adequate balancing resources can be very costly.
The Commission notes that the CERC Tariff Regulations for renewable energy sources do recognise the hybrid technology and envisages project
specific tariff determination for such technology as sufficient data is not available for determination of generic tariff in this regard.
E. ISTS charges and Losses :In case of wind energy, such waiver of IST charges and losses has been included in the National Tariff Policy 2016.
This policy needs to be formalized on an urgent basis so that the ISTS waiver can be availed by wind 7
projects .
F. Incentive for Advanced Wind Technology :For wind turbines set up at towers higher than 100 m, the tariff could be 10 % higher.
G. Solar PV Panels Degradation and Lifetime :degradation varies from <1% to 9%. If projects get degraded by more than 20%, it is considered
to have reached the end of its lifetime. It is recommended nearly 1% for large solar farms and 2% for Rooftop projects. They(WWEA ) WWEA
have also argued to consider Solar PV project lifetime as 20 years.

5. THE LEVELLISED GENERIC TARIFF FOR VARIOUS RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES FOR FY 2016-17
Renewable Energy Projects Years
Wind energy 25
Small Hydro 35
Biomass power project with Rankine Cycle technology 20
Non-fossil fuel based co-generation 20
Solar PV 25
Solar Thermal 25
Biomass Gasifier 20
Biogas 20
Municipal Solid Waste 20
CONTROL PERIOD.
Provision to the said regulation stipulates that the tariff determined for the RE projects
commissioned during the control period shall continue to be applicable for the entire
duration of the tariff period as specified in Regulation 6 of the RE Tariff Regulations.
Accordingly, the tariff determined for FY 2016-17 is for the last year of the control period.

6. TARIFF PERIOD
Renewable Energy Projects Years
Wind energy 13*
Small Hydro below 5 MW 35
Small Hydro (5 MW -25 MW) 13*
Biomass 13*
Non-fossil fuel co-generation 13*
Solar PV and Solar Thermal 25
Biomass Gasifier and Biogas 20
* The RE Tariff Regulations provides for a minimum period of thirteen
(13) years.
TARIFF STRUCTURE
a. Return on equity;
b. Interest on loan capital;
c. Depreciation;
d. Interest on working capital;
e. Operation and maintenance expenses
For renewable energy technologies having fuel cost component, such as biomass power projects and non-fossil fuel based
co-generation, single part tariff with two components i.e. fixed cost component and fuel cost component, is to be
determined.

7. TARIFF DESIGN
the tariff design for renewable energy generating stations is as under:
1) The generic tariff shall be determined on levellised basis for the Tariff Period. Provided that for renewable energy
technologies having single part tariff with two components, tariff shall be determined on levellised basis considering the
year of commissioning of the project for fixed cost component while the fuel cost component shall be specified on year of
operation basis.
2) For the purpose of levellised tariff computation, the discount factor equivalent to Post Tax weighted average cost of
capital shall be considered.
3) Levellisation shall be carried out for the ‘useful life’ of the Renewable Energy project while Tariff shall be specified for the
period equivalent to Tariff Period.”
A two-part tariff is a price discrimination technique in which the price of a product or service is composed of two parts - a
lump-sum fee as well as a per-unit charge. In general, price discrimination techniques only occur in partially or fully
monopolistic markets. wo-part tariffs may also exist in competitive markets when consumers are uncertain about their
ultimate demand.

8. The single-part tariff for a station was calculated so as to cover both the fixed cost as well as the variable (energy) cost at
a certain (normative) generation level. A sort of incentive and disincentive was inherent in the single-part tariff. If the station
was not able to generate up to the normative generation level, it suffered a shortfall in fixed cost recovery corresponding to the
shortfall in generation. A sort of incentive and disincentive was inherent in the single-part tariff. If the station was not able to
generate up to the normative generation level, it suffered a shortfall in fixed cost recovery corresponding to the shortfall in
generation. On the other hand, energy production above the normative generation level yielded additional revenue, i.e., a
surplus over the fixed and variable cost of the station. The normative generation level was specified in terms of energy
produced in a year, and thereby, the incentive and disincentive got linearly linked to the annual PLF of the generating station.
Fnding that the above system of single-part tariff, particularly for Central generating stations, was conducive neither to
economic generation of power as per merit-order, nor to satisfactory operation of the regional grids, Government of India
adopted in 1992 a two-part tariff formula for NTPC stations,
Infirm Power means electricity injected into the grid prior to the commercial operation of a unit or block of the generating station;
Maximum Continuous Rating (MCR) in relation to a unit of the thermal generating station means the maximum continuous
output at the generator terminals, guaranteed by the manufacturer at rated parameters, and in relation to a block of a combined cycle
thermal generating station means the maximum continuous output at the generator terminals, guaranteed by the manufacturer with
water or steam injection (if applicable) and corrected to 50 Hz grid frequency and specified site conditions;

9. DISCOUNT FACTOR
Interest Rate considered for the loan component (i.e.70%) of capital cost is 12.76%. For equity component (i.e. 30%), rate of
Return on Equity (ROE) is considered at post tax ROE of 16%. The discount factor derived by this method for all technologies
is 10.64% ((12.76 % × 0.70 × (1 – 34.61%)) + (16.0% × 0.30)).
CAPITAL COST
In order to determine the normative capital cost for the remaining years of the control period, the regulations stipulate the
indexation mechanism for Wind Energy, Small Hydro Power, Biomass Power, Non-Fossil Fuel based Cogeneration, Biomass
Gasifier and Biogas based power projects. However, the Capital Cost norms for Solar PV, Solar Thermal Power Projects and
MSW projects shall be reviewed on annual basis by the Commission.
The indexation mechanism shall take into account adjustments in capital cost with the changes in Wholesale Price Index of
Steel and Wholesale Price Index of Electrical Machinery as per formulation stipulated under the RE Tariff Regulations,
The Commission has relied on the following sources for relevant information on various indices:
Source for WPI (electrical & machinery and iron and steel), WPI ( all commodities), WPI (Price of HSD): Office of Economic
Advisor, Ministry of Commerce & Industry (www.eaindustry.nic.in)
Source for IRC (Average Annual Inflation rate for indexed energy charge component in case of captive coal mine source):
CERC (www.cercind.gov.in)

10. (A) Capital Cost of Wind Energy for FY 2016-17:
the Commission determines normative capital cost of the Wind energy Projects at Rs. 619.80 lakhs/MW for FY 2016-17. The
detailed computations of the indexation mechanism and determination of the capital cost for FY 2016-17 .
B) Capital cost of Small Hydro Projects for FY 2016-17:
Small Hydro Projects for the purpose of the RE Tariff Regulations cover those projects which are located at the sites approved
by the State Nodal Agencies/State Governments using new plant and machinery and with installed power plant capacity
lower than or equal to 25 MW.
(C) Capital Cost of Biomass based Power Projects for FY 2016-17
in line with the indexation mechanism, specified in Regulation 35 of the RE Tariff Regulations, the normative capital cost for
FY 2016-17 for Biomass Projects has been determined considering capital cost specified in the RE Tariff (First Amendment)
Regulations for FY 2013-14 as base year capital cost, average WPI for Steel and average WPI for Electrical Machinery
prevalent for calendar year 2015 considered for SI (n-1) and EI (n-1) respectively. Average WPI for Steel and average WPI for
Electrical Machinery prevalent for year 2012 for SI (0) and EI (0) respectively.
(D) Capital Cost of Non-fossil fuel based Cogeneration Projects for FY 2016-17
non-fossil based cogeneration has been defined as the process in which more than one form of energy is produced in a
sequential manner by using biomass. RE Tariff Regulations, a project to qualify as the non-fossil based co-generation project
must be using new plant and machinery with topping cycle mode of operation which uses the non-fossil fuel input for power
generation and utilizes the thermal energy generated for useful heat applications in other industrial activities simultaneously,
and where the sum of useful power output and half of useful thermal output is greater than 45% of the plant’s energy
consumption during the season. Commission determines the normative capital cost of Non-Fossil Fuel based Cogeneration
power projects at Rs. 452.75 lakhs/MW for FY 2016-17.

11. (E) Capital Cost of Solar PV based Power Projects for FY 2016-17 : for the year 2015-16 the capital cost for the solar PV
(Rs.lakh /MW)605.85 ,It may be seen that over the years, the capital cost has shown a declining trend due to reasons such as
advancement of technologies, reduction in module prices and economies of scale.The Commission vide its suo-motu Order
dated 23rd March 2016 determined the normative capital cost for the Solar PV power projects as Rs. 530.02 lakhs/MW for FY
2016-17.
(F) Capital Cost of Solar Thermal based Power Projects forFY 2016-17 :for the yr 2015-16 the capital cost is 1200 rs lakh/MW
Salvage value is the estimated resale value of an asset at the end of its useful life.Salvage value is subtracted from the cost of
a fixed asset to determine the amount of the asset cost that will be depreciated. Thus, salvage value is used as a component of
the depreciation calculation.
Depreciation per annum shall be based on ‘Differential Depreciation Approach' over loan period beyond loan tenure over useful
life computed on ‘Straight Line Method’. The depreciation rate for the first 12 years of the Tariff Period shall be 5.83% per
annum and the remaining depreciation shall be spread over the remaining useful life of the project from 13th year onwards.

12. INTEREST ON WORKING CAPITAL
“(1) The Working Capital requirement in respect of wind energy projects,
Small Hydro Power, Solar PV and Solar thermal power projects shall be computed in accordance with the following:
Wind Energy / Small Hydro Power /Solar PV / Solar thermal
a) Operation & Maintenance expenses for one month;
b) Receivables equivalent to 2 (Two) months of energy charges for sale of electricity calculated on the normative CUF;
c) Maintenance spare @ 15% of operation and maintenance expenses
(2) The Working Capital requirement in respect of biomass power projects and non-fossil fuel based co-generation projects
shall be computed in accordance with the following clause:
Biomass (Rankine Cycle Technology), Biomass Gasifier, Biogas Power and Non-fossil fuel Co-generation
a) Fuel costs for four months equivalent to normative PLF;
b) Operation & Maintenance expense for one month;
c) Receivables equivalent to 2 (Two) months of fixed and variable charges for sale of electricity calculated on the target PLF;
d) Maintenance spare @ 15% of operation and maintenance expenses
(3) Interest on Working Capital shall be at interest rate equivalent to the average State Bank of India Base Rate prevalent
during the first six months of the previous year plus 350 basis points”.

13. “Operation and Maintenance Expenses
(1) ‘Operation and Maintenance or O&M expenses’ shall comprise repair and maintenance (R&M), establishment including
employee expenses and administrative & general expenses.
(2) Operation and maintenance expenses shall be determined for the Tariff Period based on normative O&M expenses specified
by the Commission subsequently in these Regulations for the first Year of Control Period.
(3) Normative O&M expenses allowed during first year of the Control Period (i.e. FY 2012-13) under these Regulations shall be
escalated at the rate of 5.72% per annum over the Tariff Period”
“READ THE DRAFT “